Residence Life has opened up weekend event planning and funding to anyone with a good idea and a plan for how to start it. They call the process DIY Events.
Chad Coleman, Resident Life director, said Res Life has always been open to weekend event ideas from the student body. “Now we’re just trying to formalize this process . . . and encourage it more,” said Coleman.
After the “highly successful” trivia night held by Adelphian House last year, the “Minute to Win It” event proposed by individual students from KMY and the Masquerade Ball from Kulp students that had over 300 attendants, Coleman said he realized this could be a regular way for students to both help fill empty spaces in the event schedule and exercise creativity.
“Ultimately, there’s always between three to four weekends per semester when there are no groups to claim a date,” said Coleman. “This is now an opportunity for students to contribute to campus outside of just being in a leadership role.”
Since naming the process “DIY Events” and routing applicants to the online event form, the main influx of suggestions have come from off-campus houses. “It’s a little ironic,” said Coleman, “because we are ‘Residence Life,’ so we can’t really fund off-campus events.” However, Coleman explained that if those same groups of off-campus students would bring their events on campus, they could potentially be funded.
“I see this event program only ever being supplemental,” said Coleman, “the leftover dates . . . that students can then fill in with their ideas.” When a group of students has an idea for an event, they need only inform someone in Res Life, like Katie Dwyer-Zemen or Neal Friesen, and they will pass it on to Chad, who will propose the idea to the rest of the Res Life team for approval. After approval, Res Life will help promote the event with advertising as well as pay for the expenses.
“If you have an idea and a have a plan, let us help you fulfill it,” Coleman encouraged. “Contact me. It’s a great way to contribute to community on campus, show your creative side and possibly do something that has never been done before.”
The next available dates for a DIY event are November 15 and 16.
